The southern part of Florida is undergoing a demographic transformation, making it one of the most diverse areas in the United States, where the historic Cuban hegemony now coexists with over a dozen rapidly expanding Latin American communities, according to an analysis published by Telemundo 51.
The counties of Miami-Dade and Broward today reflect a mosaic that goes far beyond their Caribbean roots.
The first one has a total population of 2.70 million inhabitants, of which 1.86 million - 68.7% - are Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the American Community Survey (ACS 2020–2023).
Broward totals 1.94 million, with between 540,000 and 580,000 Latinos, representing between 27% and 30% of the county.
More Latin Cities
The most Latin cities in the region are Hialeah, with about 94% of its 223,109 inhabitants being of Latin origin, followed by Miami, where Latinos make up more than 73% of its 442,241 residents.
Cubans continue to be the dominant group, with nearly one million people in Miami-Dade—about 36% of the county—and a majority presence in Hialeah, Miami Lakes, and Homestead.
However, their relative weight has slightly decreased; in 2000 they represented approximately 45% of the county's population. “Although Cubans remain the largest group, their relative weight has diminished over time, giving way to greater diversity,” the analysis notes.
Cubans are yielding ground to other nationalities
The fastest-growing group in the last decade is the Venezuelan one.
It is estimated that between 350,000 and 400,000 Venezuelans reside in the region, mainly concentrated in Doral, Weston, and Aventura. Doral, nicknamed "Doralzuela" due to its high concentration of this community, is home to around 27,000 Venezuelans, and more than 70% of its residents were born outside the United States.
According to Florida International University (FIU), more than 50,000 Venezuelans have moved to the region in the last 10 years, driven by the political and economic crisis in their country.
Colombians, with around 250,000-270,000 residents in both counties, grew by 12% between 2010 and 2020 and have a strong presence in Doral, Weston, and Sunrise.
Puerto Ricans, whose arrival increased following Hurricane Maria in 2017, number around 220,000-240,000 in the region.
Haitians -who the Census does not classify as Latinos- number over 300,000 in South Florida, with a particular concentration in northern Miami and cities in Broward like Lauderdale Lakes and Lauderhill.
Nicaraguans, Dominicans, Peruvians, and Mexicans are included among the middle and emerging communities whose presence has been on the rise.
Finally, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, Chileans, Brazilians, and Argentinians complete the map of Miami-Dade, which can no longer be viewed through the lens of a single nationality.
How is the future anticipated?
The report from Telemundo 51 notes that although the most recent official census is from 2020, data from the ACS, FIU, and Pew Research Center reveal clear trends.
The Cuban population is declining relatively (slowly, not absolutely), while the Venezuelan population is growing rapidly.
South American communities will continue to expand.
While in Miami-Dade the historical Cuban identity will remain stronger, Broward has a greater structural diversity due to its more ethnic variety and a more balanced mix between the Caribbean and South America.
Elements that influence demographics: the housing crisis
This mosaic, however, faces a growing challenge: the demographic slowdown caused by the extreme rise in housing costs.
Miami-Dade lost more than 10,000 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, with a record internal exodus of 113,700 net residents.
The average price of a home in the county reached $711,025 in 2025, and the cost of living in Miami now exceeds that of New York by 5%, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
At the same time, international immigration to Florida dropped by 56.6%, from over 411,000 people in 2024 to 178,674 in 2025, partly due to the tightening of immigration policies under the Trump administration.
According to the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida, total migration to the state dropped to 201,191 people in 2025, a reduction of over 66% compared to the recent peak, marking a historic turning point for a region that has built its identity on the constant arrival of new migrants.
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